NEW YORK, N.Y. – New York basketball culture among the UNC program continues to thrive as Bronx natives Ian Jackson and RJ Davis separate themselves from the rest.
The fierceness they carry and their relentless playmaking style is true New York basketball and is the reason why they fought so hard for a special win at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Jackson delivered a breakthrough performance with 24 points in front of his hometown crowd, giving the team a much-needed boost to earn its first ranked-non conference win
Playing in front of roughly 30-40 family members and friends, Jackson showcased his explosive scoring ability that has seen him tally 92 points over his last six games. In each game this season, he’s scored a three-pointer.
“The nerves go away when I get going,” Jackson said sheepishly after the game. “I’m super confident in what I can do out there and have the utmost faith in myself, definitely more excitement than nerves.”
Jackson has proven himself off the bench, emerging as one of Carolina’s most potent weapons, ranking third on the team with 12.0 points per game. His consistent three-point shooting – having connected from beyond the arc in every game this season – combined with his aggressive drives to the rim have provided a crucial spark for the 7-5 Tar Heels.
Fifth-year senior RJ Davis moved to 2-1 in the Garden with 17 points, once again showing his mature play where he can get to the free-throw line and make it in from inside.
Jackson being able to step up and take the weight off Davis is something we need to see more of as the season progresses. The Tar Heels have just one final non-conference game on Sunday, hosting Campbell at the Smith Center. After that, they’ll be squarely into ACC play – traveling to face Louisville on Jan. 1.
As for Jackson and Davis, their Garden performances won’t end here. Maybe next time they’ll be in NBA threads. For now, though, their focus remains on leading their team through the rigorous ACC slate ahead..
“We gotta continue to find our identity as a team, that’s something that is very important to us, that we gotta find and are still trying to find,” Jackson said.